JP4619859B2 - Spacer coating device, spacer coating method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a spacer coating device for arranging a spacer on a liquid crystal display device or the like.

Conventionally, spacers have been inserted between the substrates holding the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal panel in order to keep the distance between the substrates constant.
For large color TV panels, the current ODF (liquid crystal dripping) method is adopted. If spacers are formed by spraying conventional ball spacers, the ball spacers are washed away when the liquid crystal is dripped. It has become mainstream.

  The photo-spacer is formed by spin-coating a photo-spacer material on the entire surface of the substrate, and then leaving a column-shaped spacer only at a predetermined position of each pixel by a photolithography process, and dissolving and removing the organic material by solvent treatment. The material becomes a photo spacer. Disadvantages are cost problems due to waste of materials and the introduction of expensive processes such as photolithography. In addition, with the increase in size of the substrate, it has become difficult to obtain a uniform film thickness within the substrate of the photo spacer material after spin coating.

  Inkjet printers allow precise control of the amount and position of ink discharged, so instead of ink, spacers discharge the liquid dispersed in the liquid dispersion and dry it onto a substrate or other processing object. Spacers can be placed. Since the spacer is fixed to the surface of the object to be processed by drying and heat treatment, and less wasted material, it is more advantageous than the photo spacer method.

  However, even if a certain amount of discharge liquid is discharged onto the object to be processed, the same number of spacers are not always contained in the discharge liquid. If there is an arrangement position where the spacer is insufficient, the distance between the substrates becomes non-uniform, resulting in uneven color.

As for the arrangement method of the spacer, there are the following prior arts.
JP-A-11-24083 JP 2002-372717 A JP 2002-72218 A JP 2005-4094 A

  The present invention has been created to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of arranging a spacer at a desired position without performing a heavy inspection.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a control device in which position information indicating an arrangement position on a processing object on which a spacer is to be arranged is stored, and a first print head that discharges a discharge liquid including the spacer. And a correction device in which a second print head for discharging the discharge liquid is disposed, and the first printing is performed. The head is configured to discharge the discharge liquid to the arrangement position according to the position information, the inspection apparatus inspects the arrangement position according to the position information, and the second print head is configured to perform the inspection. It is a spacer coating apparatus configured to discharge the discharge liquid to the insufficient position of the spacer specified from the result.
In addition, the present invention is a spacer coating apparatus that includes a plurality of the printing apparatuses, and each of the printing apparatuses is configured to discharge the discharge liquid to the discharge position indicated by the position information.
Further, the present invention is a spacer coating apparatus having a plurality of the correction devices, wherein each of the correction devices is configured to inspect the discharge position indicated by the position information.
Further, the present invention provides a first and second print heads for discharging a discharge liquid containing spacers, and a spacer coating device in which an inspection device for inspecting the surface of the processing object is provided, and the processing object is processed by the spacer coating apparatus. A spacer coating method in which the spacer is arranged at a predetermined arrangement position, wherein position information indicating an arrangement position corresponding to a processing object is stored in advance in a control device, and the arrangement is performed on the first print head. The arrangement position of the processing object is determined from the type of the processing object, the discharge liquid is discharged from the first print head based on the position information, and the processing object is moved to the inspection apparatus. The arrangement position is determined from the type of the processing object, the arrangement position is inspected based on the position information, the number of spacers is counted for each arrangement position, and the insufficient position where the spacer is insufficient is specified. , The lack of position is a spacer coating method of ejecting the ejection liquid from the second print head.
Further, the present invention is a spacer coating method in which the number of the spacers is obtained by photographing a surface for each arrangement position, and discriminating and counting the spacers by image analysis.

The present invention is configured as described above, and since the discharge position of the processing object to be processed by the printing apparatus and the correction apparatus can be known, image processing can be performed for each arrangement position. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform image processing on regions other than the arrangement position, and the burden of image processing is light.
It is also possible to perform image processing for each column where the arrangement positions are arranged. In this case, it is not necessary to perform image processing on the area between the rows where the arrangement positions are arranged.

  In the present invention, the control device that stores the positional information in association with the type may control the operation of the printing device and the correction device, or the positional information is stored in the central control device, and each printing device and each The operation may be controlled by an individual control device arranged in the correction device. The position information may be stored in an individual control device that controls the operation.

In the present invention, since the printing device and the correction device are separated, the ratio between the number of printing devices and the number of correction devices can be changed according to the ratio of the processing capabilities.
Since the position information of the arrangement position according to the type of the processing object is given, the number of spacers at the arrangement position can be counted only by performing image processing on a partial area of the processing object. Compared to photographing the entire surface of the processing object, the burden of image analysis is reduced. In particular, if only the discharge position is photographed, the burden of image analysis can be greatly reduced.
Since the type of the processing object is confirmed by the printing apparatus and the correction apparatus and the positional information of the arrangement position corresponding to the type is obtained, the arrangement position is not erroneous even if different types of processing objects are mixed.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 represents the spacer coating apparatus of the present invention.
The spacer coating device 1 includes a central control device 11, one or more printing devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _m , and one or more correction devices 13 _{1 to} 13 _n . The subscripts m and n represent an integer of 2 or more.
Each of the printing apparatuses 12 _{1 to} 12 _m has the same configuration, and will be described using the printing apparatus 12a of FIGS. 3 and 4 as a representative.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the printing apparatus 12a viewed from the lateral direction, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the printing apparatus 12a viewed from above.
The printing apparatus 12 a includes a printing stand 21, and the processing target 6 is disposed on the printing stand 21.

  The processing object 6 is a substrate of a liquid crystal device, a color filter or the like attached to the liquid crystal device, and a procedure for applying a spacer in the case of a color filter will be described. However, the processing object 6 of the present invention is not limited to a color filter.

FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining the surface of the processing object 6 before being processed by the spacer coating apparatus 1. In the case of a color filter, red, green, and blue window portions 55R, 55G, and 55B corresponding to each color of R, G, and B are regularly arranged on the surface, and the window portions 55R, 55G, and 55B of the respective colors are arranged. , BM (black matrix) lines 56.
The BM line 56 extends vertically and horizontally and is formed in a lattice shape, and the intersection position A _{x, y} between the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Y is an arrangement position A _{x, y} suitable for fixing the spacer. .

In FIG. 14 and FIGS. 15 and 16 to be described later, the subscript x indicating the position of the arrangement position _{Ax, y on} the processing object 6-8 is in the range of 1-4, and y is in the range of 1,2. is there. In FIG. 14 to FIG. 16, eight arrangement positions A _1,1 to A _4,2 are shown.

An individual control device 20 is provided in the printing device 12a.
A symbol indicating the type of the processing object 6 is arranged on the processing object 6. The printing stand 21 is provided with a reading device 28 that reads the symbol. The reading device 28 is connected to the central control device 11 via the individual control device 20, and when a symbol on the processing object 6 is read by the reading device 28, the result is transmitted to the central control device 11.

The central control device 11 stores the position where the spacer is to be arranged as position information in association with the type of the processing object 6, and compares the reading result transmitted from the printing device 12 a with the stored content. The position information corresponding to the type indicated by the reading result is returned to the printing apparatus 12a that has transmitted the reading result. Therefore, even when different kinds of processing object 6 is disposed in the printing devices 12 ₁ to 12 _m, position A _x corresponding to _them, the position information of the _y is the printing devices 12 ₁ to 12 _m Will be replied to each.

The received position information is stored in the individual control devices 20 of 12 _{1 to} 12 _m .
The printing stand 21 is provided with a transport device and a substrate alignment device (not shown), and the individual control device 20 controls the transport device and moves the processing object 6.
3 and 4 indicate the moving direction of the processing object 6.

  A first print head 23 a is disposed on the printing stand 21. The first print head 23 is attached to the moving device 22a, and is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction 24 of the processing object 6 within a plane parallel to the surface of the processing object 6. ing. Reference numeral 29a indicates the moving path direction of the first print head 23a.

The processing object 6 is arranged such that a row in the x direction or y direction of the arrangement positions A _{x, y} is parallel to the moving direction of the first print head 23a.
For example, if the processing object 6 is provided with a base point serving as a reference for position information, the base point is detected by a sensor arranged in the printing device 21, and the individual control device 20 uses the coordinates of the placement position A _{x, y} . When it is detected from the movement amount of the processing object 6 that the first one to several sequences of the arrangement positions A _{x, y} have reached a position below the movement range of the first print head 23a, the processing object 6 is stopped. The
As shown in FIG. 13, the first print head 23a has a plurality of nozzles N _{1 to} N _n , respectively.

A liquid supply system 25 is connected to the first print head 23a. The liquid supply system 25 stores a discharge liquid in which spacers are dispersed in a dispersion liquid, and discharges from one or all of the nozzles N _{1 to} N _{n according} to a discharge signal input from the individual control device 20. It is comprised so that a liquid can be discharged. The movement and ejection of the first print head 23 are controlled by the individual control device 20.

The nozzles N _{1 to} N _n are arranged in a line at equal intervals. However, _since the intervals between the arrangement positions A _{x and y} differ depending on the product, the intervals between the arrangement positions A _{x and y} and the nozzles N _{1 to} N _n are generally used. The intervals are not equal.

The angle of the first print head 23a with respect to the printing table 21 is adjustable, and the first print head is adjusted by adjusting the angle formed by the rows of the nozzles N _{1 to} N _n with respect to the arrangement positions A _{x and y} . 23a is when moving along the moving direction 29a, the nozzles n ₁ to n _n are positions a _x, is to pass directly over of _y.

Individual control unit 20, the nozzle N ₁ to N _n are positions A _x, when it passes over _y, to discharge the discharge liquid from the nozzles N ₁ to N _n.
When landing on the arrangement position A _{x, y} located in the same number of rows as the number M of the nozzles N _{1 to} N _n , the processing object 6 moves downstream by the number of adjacent M rows, and the first Below the movement range of the print head 23a, M rows of non-ejection arrangement positions A _{x, y} are arranged _, and the ejection liquid is ejected to these arrangement positions A _{x, y} .

As described above, when the movement and the discharge of the processing object 6 are repeated, the discharging liquid is discharged and landed at the respective arrangement positions A _{x, y} on the processing object 6.

Reference numeral 7 in FIG. 15 indicates the object to be treated after the discharge liquid is discharged by the printing device 12a, reference numeral 51 indicates the discharged discharge liquid, and reference numeral 53 indicates the spacer included in the discharge liquid 51. ing. The spacer 53 is resin particles or inorganic particles having a diameter of 4 μm to 5 μm.
The object 7 to be processed after being processed by the printing device 12a is taken out from each of the printing devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _m and moved to desired correction devices 13 _{1 to} 13 _n .

Each of the correction devices 13 _{1 to} 13 _n has the same configuration, and an example of the correction device will be described with reference to reference numeral 13a in FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the correction device 13 viewed from the lateral direction, and FIG. 6 is a plan view viewed from above.

The correction device 13 a has a correction table 31, and the processing object 7 to which the discharge liquid is discharged is disposed on the correction table 31.
Similar to the printing table 21, the correction table 31 is provided with a transport device and a substrate alignment device (not shown), and the processing object 7 is moved on the printing table 31 by the transport device.
Reference numeral 34 a in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicates the moving direction of the processing object 7.

  On the correction table 31, an inspection device 33a and a second print head 43a are arranged. The inspection apparatus 33a is on the upstream side and the second print head 43a is on the downstream side with respect to the moving direction of the processing object 7.

  The inspection device 33a and the second print head 33a are respectively attached to the moving devices 32a and 42a, and are perpendicular to the moving direction 34a of the processing object 7 in a plane parallel to the surface of the processing object 7. It is configured to be able to reciprocate in each direction.

Reference numerals 39a and 49a indicate movement path directions of the inspection device 33a and the second print head 43a, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 13, the second print head 43a and other second print heads 43b and 43c described later each have a plurality of nozzles N _{1 to} N _n similar to the first print head 23a. is doing. Here, the nozzles N _{1 to} N _n are arranged in a line, the angle with respect to the arrangement position A _{x, y} of the processing object 7 is adjusted, and each nozzle N _{1 to} N _n is true of the arrangement position A _{x, y} . It is designed to pass over.

A reading device 38 that reads a symbol on the processing object 7 is attached to the correction table 31.
An individual control device 30 is provided in the correction device 13a.

The reading device 38 is connected to the central control device 11 via the individual control device 30. When the reading device 38 reads a symbol and transmits it to the central control device 11, the arrangement position A _{x, y of the} processing object 7 from the central control device 11. Position information is transmitted.

When the processing object 7 moves and the one or more arrangement positions A _{x, y} reach the lower position of the moving range of the inspection apparatus 33a, the processing object 7 is temporarily stopped.
The inspection device 33 a is a high-definition camera, and the inspection device 33 a images the surface for each arrangement position A _{x, y} while moving on the movement path 39 a and outputs the imaging result to the individual control device 30.

In the individual control device 30, the photographing result and the arrangement position A _{x, y} are associated with each other, the image of the photographing result is analyzed, the number of spacers is counted, and the number of spacers is compared with the reference number for each arrangement position A _{x, y.} The position where the number is less than the number of positions is specified. In the processing object 7 in FIG. 15, the lack of spacer number of positions A _2,1 of one place, by image analysis, the position A _2,1 is identified as missing positions, are stored.

When the processing object 7 is moved and the shortage position A _2,1 is located directly below one of the movement paths of the nozzles N _{1 to} N _n of the second print head 43a, the processing object 7 is temporarily stopped, and the first The second print head 42a moves and discharges the discharge liquid to the shortage position _A2,1 . At this time, the discharge liquid is not discharged to the arrangement positions A _{x, y} where the reference number or more spacers are arranged.

When the discharge liquid is discharged from the second print head 43a to one or a plurality of deficient positions _{Am, n} on the processing target 7, and then dried, the arrangement position _{Ax, y} is more than the reference number. A processed substrate on which a number of spacers are arranged is obtained.
Reference numeral 8 in FIG. 16 shows such a processed substrate, and a spacer is added to the shortage position A _2,1 to eliminate the shortage of spacer.

Above, the central control unit 11 is provided, the arrangement position to the central control unit 11 A _x, had been stored in association with the type of the processing object 6,7 position information of _y, the printing devices 12 ₁ to 12 The position information of the arrangement positions A _{x, y} may be stored in association with the types of the processing objects 6 and 7 in the individual control devices 20 and 30 of the _m and correction devices 13 _{1 to} 13 _n .

In that case, like the spacer coating device 2 in FIG. 2, the individual control devices 20 and 30 of the printing devices 12 _{1 to} 12 _m and the correction devices 13 _{1 to} 13 _n are connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. it can. For example, the position information can be shared by the individual control devices 20 and 30 only by inputting the position information of the type and the arrangement position to one printing apparatus 12 _x .

Next, another example of the present invention will be described.
In the correction device 13a, the inspection device 33a and the second print head 43a are configured to be reciprocally movable independently, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Reference numeral 13b in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 represents an example of the correcting device.
In the correction device 13b and correction devices 13c and 13d described later, the same members as those of the correction device 13a are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the correcting device 13b, an inspection device 33b and a second print head 43b are attached to a single moving device 32b, and reciprocate together in directions 39b and 49b perpendicular to the moving direction 34 of the processing object 7. Is configured to move.

When the insufficiency position is found by the inspection device 33b, the second printing head 43b ejects the discharge liquid only at the insufficiency position and adds a spacer. This eliminates the spacer shortage.
The correction device can be provided with a plurality of second print heads or inspection devices.

Reference numeral 13c in FIGS. 9 and 10 indicates a correction device in which inspection devices 33c ₁ and 33c ₂ are arranged on both sides of the second print head 43c. The inspection apparatuses 33c ₁ and 33c ₂ are configured to reciprocate together with the second print head 43c on the same movement path as the movement path of the second printing apparatus 43c. When reciprocating, one of the inspection devices 33c ₁ and 33c ₂ is at the head, and the position A _{x, y} of the processing object 7 is photographed at the head, the insufficient position is identified, and the subsequent second By the second print head 43c, it is possible to discharge the discharge liquid to the shortage position to eliminate the shortage of spacers.

  On the contrary, when the second print head is arranged on both sides of one inspection device, either one of the second print heads is the tail of the inspection device. By using the subsequent trailing print head, the discharge liquid can be discharged to the shortage position, and the shortage of spacers can be resolved.

  In the above example, the processing objects 6 and 7 and the first and second print heads and the inspection apparatus are moved. However, the processing object 11 is stopped and the first and second print heads and the inspection apparatus are moved. Further, it may be moved along the surfaces of the processing objects 6 and 7 in two directions, the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

  In the printing device 12b in FIG. 11 and the correction device 13d in FIG. 12, the moving device 22b to which the first print head 23b is attached is arranged on the rail 27. Further, the moving device 32d to which the inspection device 33d is attached and the moving device 42d to which the second print head 43b is attached are arranged on the same rail 37.

  The rails 27 and 37 incorporate a motor and the like, and are configured to reciprocate the moving devices 22b, 32d, and 42d along the rails 27 and 37 individually. Reference numerals 24b and 34d in FIGS. 11 and 12 indicate directions of reciprocation of the moving devices 22b, 32d, and 42d.

  The first print head 23b, the inspection device 33d, and the second print head 43b are perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving devices 22b, 32d, and 42d in a plane parallel to the surfaces of the processing objects 6 and 7. It is configured to be movable in the directions 29b, 39d, and 49d.

The positions of the moving devices 22b, 32d and 42d, and the positions and operations of the first and second print heads 23b and 43d and the inspection device 33d are controlled by the individual control devices 20 and 30, respectively. In accordance with the position information of the arrangement position A _{x, y} obtained from the reading results of the reading devices 28 and 38, discharge of the discharge liquid, inspection, and addition of spacers are performed.

  In addition, in the said processing target objects 6-8, although the symbol which shows the kind was arrange | positioned on the processing target objects 6-8, you may attach the tag which described the kind, the IC tag which input the kind, etc. .

Further, in the inspection apparatus _{33a, 33b, 33c 1, 33c} 2, 33d, position A _x, had taken every _y, position A _x while moving the inspection _apparatus, the _{column y} are aligned photographed Alternatively, image analysis may be performed for each column, and the number of spacers may be counted for each arrangement position A _{x, y} .
In addition, a range including a plurality of arrangement positions A _{x, y} may be captured in a lump, and an image may be divided into narrow ranges including one arrangement position A _{x, y} one by one, and image analysis may be performed for each range. .

An example of the spacer coating apparatus of the present invention Other examples of the spacer coating apparatus of the present invention Side view for explaining a first example of a printing apparatus The plan view Side view for explaining the first example of the correction device The plan view Side view for explaining a second example of the correction device The plan view Side view for explaining a third example of the correction device The plan view Plan view for explaining a second example of a printing apparatus Plan view for explaining a fourth example of the correction device Diagram for explaining nozzle arrangement Plan view for explaining the structure of the processing object The top view for demonstrating the state where the discharge liquid landed on the process target surface The top view for demonstrating the state in which the spacer was added to the shortage position of the processing object

Explanation of symbols

1, 2... Spacer coating device 6 to 8... Processing object 12, 12 _{1 to} 12 _m , 12 a, 12 b... Printing device 13, 13 _{1 to} 13 _n , 13 a to 13 d. liquid 52, 53 ...... spacers 23a, 23b ...... first print head _{33a, 33b, 33c 1, 33c} 2, 33d ...... inspecting device 43 a to 43 d ...... second print head a _{x, y} ...... discharge position N _{1 to} N _n ...... Discharge hole

Claims (5)

A control device in which position information indicating an arrangement position on the processing object on which the spacer is to be arranged is stored;
A printing apparatus in which a first print head for discharging a discharge liquid containing the spacer is disposed;
An inspection device for inspecting the surface on the processing object, and a correction device in which a second print head for discharging the discharge liquid is disposed,
The first print head is configured to discharge the discharge liquid to the arrangement position according to the position information,
The inspection apparatus inspects the arrangement position according to the position information, and the second print head is configured to discharge the discharge liquid to a shortage position of the spacer specified from the inspection result. Spacer coating device.   The spacer coating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the printing apparatuses, wherein each of the printing apparatuses is configured to eject the ejection liquid to the ejection position indicated by the position information.   The spacer coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the correction devices are provided, and each of the correction devices is configured to inspect the discharge position indicated by the position information. First and second print heads for discharging a discharge liquid containing spacers;
A spacer coating method in which an inspection device for inspecting a surface on a processing object is arranged, and a spacer coating method in which the spacer is arranged at a predetermined arrangement position of the processing object,
The position information indicating the arrangement position corresponding to the processing object is stored in advance in the control device,
Determining the arrangement position of the processing object from the type of the processing object arranged in the first print head, and causing the discharge liquid to be discharged from the first print head based on the position information;
Moving the processing object to the inspection device;
The arrangement position is determined from the type of the processing object, the arrangement position is inspected based on the position information, the number of spacers is counted for each arrangement position, and the insufficient position where the spacer is insufficient is specified. ,
A spacer coating method for discharging the discharge liquid from the second print head to the insufficient position.   The spacer application method according to claim 4, wherein the number of spacers is counted by photographing a surface for each arrangement position, discriminating the spacers by image analysis.

Images